System and method to provide services from a communication network to a media-delivery network via a host device connected to the media-delivery network

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a system and method for integrating telecommunications and cable networks for the purpose of providing telephone services to a cable host device over a cable network. The methods include registering a cable host device to receive telephone services, downloading telephone service software to a cable host device, cable host device sign on to the telephone services, associating a telephone with a cable host device, temporarily registering a cable host device, and activating and deactivating telephone services for a cable host device. Also described are systems for connecting telephone and cable networks to enable telephone services to be provided by cable host devices.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to integrating communication networks,such as telecommunication networks, and media-delivery networks, such ascable television networks. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a system and method for integrating communication andmedia-delivery networks for the purpose of providing communicationservices to a host device through a media-delivery network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile phone users do not always keep their phones in their immediatevicinity, nor do users keep their phones perpetually turned on. Further,there are occasions when using a mobile phone, while possible, may beinconvenient. In either illustrative situation, telephone services areunavailable. If telephone services were able to be delivered viaalternate mechanisms, including mechanisms that take advantage ofdevices that are present in the user's home, then the value of theservices would be increased and functionally extended. One suchalternate mechanism could be the use of a cable host device thatnormally facilitates the delivery of cable television programming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for integratingcommunication and media-delivery networks for the purpose of providingcommunication services to a host device over a media-delivery network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to theattached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein,and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system architecture for hosting telephone serviceson a cable host device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a further system architecture for hosting telephoneservices on a cable host device in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for registering a cable host device toreceive telephone services in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for downloading telephone services softwareto a cable host device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a method in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention for signing on a registered cable host device to atelephone network;

FIG. 6 illustrates a method in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention for signing on an unregistered cable host device to atelephone network;

FIG. 7 illustrates a method in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention for adding a telephone number to a registered cablehost device;

FIG. 8 illustrates a method in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention for activating a telephone service from a registeredcable host device;

FIG. 9 illustrates a method in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention for deactivating a telephone service from a registeredcable host device;

FIG. 10 illustrates a system architecture to deliver high-bandwidthtelephone services via a cable host device in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a system architecture to deliver low-bandwidthtelephone services via a cable host device in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention permits the integration of one or morecommunication network with one or more media-delivery network. Oneresult of the integration is the ability to deliver communicationservices over the media-delivery network to a host device. While thetype of communication network described in detail herein is atelecommunication network, and, more particularly, a mobiletelecommunication network, one skilled in the art will appreciate thatthe present invention may be implemented with other types ofcommunication networks permitting the multi-directional exchange ofinformation (in any format, including analogue). Likewise, one skilledin the art will appreciate that while cable television networks aredescribed herein as an example of a media-delivery network, the presentinvention may be implemented with other types of media delivery networksthat permit the substantially uni-directional delivery of media content.

Telephone services provided via a mobile telephone may be delivered to acable host device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. A telephone network that provides telephone services isusually owned by a telephone carrier and is separate from a cablenetwork that provides cable-television programming and is owned by acable operator.

The present invention may deliver communication services associated witha communication network, such as a mobile telephone network, to amedia-delivery network, such as digital cable television, by interfacingthe two networks, for example at a cable head end, and deliveringservices over the media-delivery network. In the example of digitalcable television services may be delivered on the unbound signalingchannel typically employed in a digital cable television network or onone or more bound digital cable channels. In accordance with the presentinvention, services may be delivered on any type of bound digitalchannel, including a premium channel, a pay-per-view channel, a regularchannel, or an unbound channel used to deliver programming information.

In a digital cable television network, content is delivered on multiplebound channels, and a user selects content by selecting at the cablehost device the channel on which the desired content is available. Thecable host device then displays the content on the desired channel on amonitor, which is often a television screen. Media content on boundchannels flows uni-directionally from a cable headend to the cable hostdevices connected to that cable headend.

A digital cable network also uses one or more unbound channels toexchange information other than media content bi-directionally between acable host device and a cable headend. For example, informationregarding upcoming programming on bound channels may be transmitted onan unbound channel from the cable headend to the cable host device.Selection by a user may then cause such programming information to bedisplayed on a monitor. However, information may also be transmittedfrom a cable host device to a cable headend, such as registrationinformation upon power up of the cable host device and informationnecessary for authentication and/or billing upon selection ofpay-per-view program by a user.

Although there is no reason that the present invention could not beimplemented in a wholly owned scenario wherein both the telephonenetwork and the cable network belong to the same entity, the inventionis described in detail herein for the exemplary scenario where twoentities must cooperatively integrate separate networks to provide theservices.

Referring to FIG. 1, an architecture 100 to host telephone services on acable host device is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. A cable host device 110 is connected to a monitor 120and an input mechanism 130. Cable host device 110 may be, for example, aseparate device such as is commonly referred to as a set-top box orbuilt in to monitor 120. Examples of cable host device 110 include atelevision set-top box or a television-integrated component for hostingcable television software. Cable host device 110 may be manufacturedwith a Media Access Control (MAC) address that may be used to uniquelyidentify the device within a network of similar devices.

In one embodiment, cable host device 110 includes resident software toprovide channel guides and programming content. Information regardingchannel guides and programming content may be received over an unboundchannel. Examples of such cable-host-device software include residentnavigator applications such as Passport or Scientific Atlanta ResidentApplication (SARA) and operating-system software such as PowerTV.Examples of monitor 120 connected to cable host device 110 include atelevision or a computer monitor. Input mechanism 130 may be aninfra-red remote control device sensed by cable host device 110. Otherdevices, such as mobile telephones, keyboards, or personal digitalassistants (PDAs) could provide the same functionality. The connectionbetween input mechanism 130 and cable host device 110 may be wireless,such as an infra-red, radio, 802.11x, Bluetooth, etc., or directly by acable or other physical connection such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB)connector. Input mechanism 130 may directly interface with cable hostdevice 110 as in the case of a set-top box or may interface with cablehost device 110 via an intermediary device such as a personal computer.

Cable host device 110 connects to a telephone subscriber database 140 toreceive the telephone services by transmitting information over anunbound channel. One skilled in the art will appreciate that cable hostdevice 110 connecting to telephone subscriber database 140 may involveintermediate steps and equipment between the host device 110 and thedatabase 140. Cable host device 110 connects to configuration controlserver 150 which controls addressing and content for a plurality ofcable host devices. Cable host device 110 also connects to a broadcastfile carousel 160. Broadcast file carousel 160 may receive programmingand place programming on bound channels for transmission to cable hostdevice 110. Configuration control server 150 connects to broadcast filecarousel 160 to indicate when telephone services content should betransmitted to cable host device 110.

In accordance with the present invention, information necessary todeliver communication services to cable host device 110 may betransmitted in any fashion. For example, a communication servicesdatabase 140 may transmit information to cable host device 110 over anunbound channel, either directly or through an intermediary such asconfiguration control server 150. Alternatively, a communication fileserver 170 may connect to broadcast file carousel 160 to deliverinformation for a service for insertion on a bound channel by broadcastfile carousel 160 for transmission to cable host device 110.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a further architecture 200 to host telephoneservices on a cable host device is illustrated in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. A cable host device 210 isconnected to a monitor 220 and an input mechanism 230. Cable host device210 may be, for example, a separate device such as is commonly referredto as a set-top box or built in to monitor 220. Examples of cable host210 include a television set-top box or a television-integratedcomponent for hosting cable television software. Cable host device 210may be manufactured with a MAC address that may be used to identify thedevice uniquely within a network of similar devices. Examples of monitor220 connected to cable host device 210 include a television or acomputer monitor. Input mechanism 230 may be an infra-red remote controldevice sensed by cable host device 210. Other devices such a mobiletelephones, keyboards, or PDAs could provide the same capability. Theconnection between input mechanism 230 and cable host device 210 may bewireless, such as an infra-red or a Bluetooth link or directly by acable or other physical connection such as a USB connector. Inputmechanism 230 may directly interface with cable host device 210 as inthe case of a set-top box or may interface with cable host device 210via an intermediary device such as a personal computer.

Cable host device 210 connects to an intermediate gateway server 280.Intermediate gateway server 280 connects to a telephone subscriberdatabase 240 to receive the telephone services and to file server 270 toreceive telephone services software. Cable host device 210 connects toconfiguration control server 250 which controls addressing and contentfor a plurality of cable host devices. Cable host device 210 connects toa broadcast file carousel 260 which receives telephone services contentfrom intermediate gateway server 280. Configuration control server 250connects to broadcast file carousel 260 to indicate when telephoneservices content should be transmitted to cable host device 210.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a method 300 for registering a cable hostdevice to receive telephone services is illustrated in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention. Step 310 displays a userinterface on monitor 120 connected to cable host device 110 when atelecommunications portal channel is selected. The telecommunicationsportal channel may be a specific numbered channel that when selected oncable host device 110 executes a telecommunications application designedto manage telephone services provided by cable host device 110.Telecommunications portal channel may be any type of channel, such as apay-per-view channel, a premium channel, a regular channel, or aninformation channel, such as sometimes used to deliver programminginformation to a cable host device. The registration data may includetelephone numbers, account numbers, subscriber name, services toactivate or deactivate, email address, or MAC address of cable hostdevice 110 as well as any other information required to manage thetelephone services provided by cable host device 110. Step 320 collectsregistration data necessary to register the cable host device to receivetelephone services via the user interface displayed in step 310.Optionally, step 330 retrieves the MAC address of cable host device 110as additional registration data. Step 340 sends registration data fromcable host device 110 to telephone subscriber database 140. In step 350,cable host device 110 receives a subscriber identifier from telephonesubscriber database 140. Step 340 and step 350 may be performed inaccordance with current methods used to register a cable host devicewith a cable television network although any transmission method and/orprotocol may be used in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a method 400 for downloading telephone servicessoftware to a cable host device is illustrated in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. In step 410, telephone servicessoftware is sent from file server 170 to broadcast file carousel 160.Step 420 registers the presence of new software for download to cablehost device 110 with a configuration control server 150. Step 430 sendsthe software from broadcast file carousel 160 to cable host device 110when signaled by configuration control server 150. Method 400 mayutilize routines, methods and protocols such as may be used to updatesoftware and/or firmware on a cable host device during its operation ona digital television network.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a method 500 for signing on a registered cablehost device to receive telephone services is illustrated in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. Optionally, step 510retrieves the MAC address from the registered cable host device 110.Step 520 sends a message from the registered cable host device 110 totelephone subscriber database 140 indicating that cable host device 110has been powered on. Step 530 sets an indicator within telephonesubscriber database 140 that cable host device 110 is active.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a method 600 for signing on an unregisteredcable host device to receive telephone services is illustrated inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Optionally, step610 retrieves the MAC address from the unregistered cable host device110. Step 620 sends a message from the unregistered cable host device110 to telephone subscriber database 140 indicating that cable hostdevice 110 has been powered on. In step 630, telephone subscriberdatabase 140 determines that cable host device 110 has not beenpreviously registered and is associated with a valid telephone servicesaccount. Step 640 registers the unregistered cable host device 110 withtelephone subscriber database 140. Step 650 sets an indicator withintelephone subscriber database 140 that cable host device 110 is active.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a method 700 for registering a new telephonenumber to receive telephone services on a registered cable host deviceis illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. Optionally, step 710 retrieves the MAC address from theregistered cable host device 110. Step 720 sends a message from theregistered cable host device 110 to telephone subscriber database 140including the telephone number of the telephone device. Step 730associates the telephone number with the cable host device 110 intelephone subscriber database 140.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a method 800 for activating a new telephoneservice from a registered cable host device is illustrated in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. Step 810 sends a message toactivate a telephone service from a registered cable host device 110 totelephone subscriber database 140. Step 820 sets an indicator withintelephone subscriber database 140 indicating the requested telephoneservice is activated. In step 830, telephone subscriber database 140sends an acknowledgement to cable host device 110 indicating whether theservice activation succeeded or failed.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a method 900 for deactivating a new telephoneservice from a registered cable host device is illustrated in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. Step 910 sends a message todeactivate a telephone service from registered cable host device 110 totelephone subscriber database 140. Step 920 sets an indicator withintelephone subscriber database 140 indicating the requested telephoneservice is deactivated. In step 930, telephone subscriber database 140sends an acknowledgement to cable host device 110 indicating whether theservice deactivation succeeded or failed.

In FIG. 10, a system architecture 1000 for delivering high-bandwidthtelephone services via a cable host device is illustrated in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. Cable host device 1005 isconnected to a monitor 1010 and peripheral input devices such as a textinput mechanism 1015, video camera 1020, and a microphone 1025. Theconnection between text input mechanism 1015, video camera 1020, ormicrophone 1025 and cable host device 1005 may be wireless, such as aninfra-red remote or a Bluetooth link or directly by a cable or otherphysical connection such as a USB or Firewire connection. Text inputmechanism 1015, video camera 1020, or microphone 1025 may directlyinterface with cable host device 1005 as in the case of a set-top box ormay interface with cable host device 1005 via an intermediary devicesuch as a personal computer equipped with an infra-red receiver, USBport, Firewire port or other interface.

Cable host device 1005 connects via a private IP network 1030 to anintermediate gateway server 1035, a broadcast file carousel 1045, aconfiguration control server 1040 and a multimedia data server 1050.Broadcast file carousel 1045 and configuration control server 1040typically are located within a cable operator's private network.Intermediate gateway server interfaces with multimedia data server 1050to provide high-bandwidth telephone services such a video mail, picturemail, and video conferencing. Multimedia data server 1050 may be locatedwithin the cable operator's network or the telephone carrier's networkdepending on implementation requirements. Intermediate gateway server1035 connects via a second private IP network 1055 to a telephone switchcall manager 1065 and a telephone subscriber database 1060. Telephoneswitch call manager 1065 and telephone subscriber database 1060typically are located on a telephone carrier's private network. In thecase where the cable and telephone networks are under the control of oneentity, private IP networks 1030 and 1055 may be a single private IPnetwork and the use of intermediate gateway server 1035 to bridgebetween the two networks may not be required.

In FIG. 11, a system architecture 1100 for delivering low-bandwidthtelephone services via a cable host device is illustrated in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. Cable host device 1105 isconnected to a monitor 1110 and a text input mechanism 1115. Theconnection between text input mechanism 1115 and cable host device 1105may be wireless, such as an infra-red or a Bluetooth link or directly bya cable or other physical connection such as a USB connection. Textinput mechanism 1115, may directly interface with cable host device 1105as in the case of a set-top box or may interface with cable host device1105 via an intermediary device such as a personal computer equippedwith an infra-red receiver, USB port, Firewire port or other interface.

Cable host device 1105 connects via a private IP network 1120 to anintermediate gateway server 1125, a broadcast file carousel 1135, and aconfiguration control server 1130. Broadcast file carousel 1135 andconfiguration control server 1130 may be located within a cableoperator's private network. Intermediate gateway server 1125 connectsvia a second private IP network 1140 to a telephone switch call manager1145 and a telephone subscriber database 1150. In the case where thecable and telephone networks are under the control of one entity,private IP networks 1120 and 1140 may be a single private IP network andthe use of intermediate gateway server 1125 to bridge between the twonetworks may not be required.

1. A method of registering a telephone number of a mobile phonesubscribed to a mobile telecommunications network to receivetelecommunications services at a registered cable host device in amedia-delivery network as an alternative to the mobile phone, wherein amonitor is connected to the cable host device, wherein themedia-delivery network includes a cable headend, and wherein the cableheadend and the cable host device communicate using bound and unboundchannels, the method comprising: sending a message containing thetelephone number of the mobile phone from the registered cable hostdevice to a telephone subscriber database on the mobiletelecommunications network via one of the channels; associating thetelephone number with the cable host device in the telephone subscriberdatabase; and delivering the telecommunications services for thetelephone number of the mobile phone to the monitor connected to thecable host device via one of the channels of the media-delivery networkin response to the association in the telephone subscriber database. 2.The method of claim 1 further comprising: retrieving a MAC address fromthe registered cable host device; and adding the MAC address to themessage prior to sending from the registered cable host device to thetelephone subscriber database on the mobile telecommunications network.3. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the message containing thetelephone number of the mobile phone from the registered cable hostdevice to the telephone subscriber database on the mobiletelecommunications network further comprises: sending the message fromthe cable host device to an intermediate gateway server; and sending themessage from the intermediate gateway server to the telephone subscriberdatabase on the mobile telecommunications network; wherein theintermediate gateway server couples a private IP network of the mobiletelecommunications network to a private IP network of the media-deliverynetwork.
 4. The method of temporarily registering a telephone number ofa subscriber to a telecommunications network in order to receive atelephone service using a cable host device in a media-delivery networkas an alternate mechanism, wherein a monitor is connected to the cablehost device, wherein the media-delivery network includes a cableheadend, and wherein the cable headend and the cable host devicecommunicate using bound and unbound channels, the method comprising:sending a message via one of the channels from the cable host device toa telephone subscriber database on the telecommunications networkcontaining the telephone service to be activated, telephone number,expiration time, and cable host device identification; setting anindicator within the telephone subscriber database to indicate that thetelephone service is active; and delivering the telephone service forthe telephone number from the telecommunications network to the monitorconnected to the cable host device via one of the channels of themedia-delivery network in response to the indicator being set in thetelephone subscriber database.
 5. The method of claim 4 where sendingthe message from the cable host device to the telephone subscriberdatabase on the telecommunications network containing the telephoneservice to be activated, the telephone number, the expiration time, andthe cable host device identification further comprises: sending themessage from the cable host device to an intermediate gateway server;and sending the message from the intermediate gateway server to thetelephone subscriber database on the telecommunications network; whereinthe intermediate gateway server couples a private IP network of thetelecommunications network to a private IP network of the media-deliverynetwork.